Remote control system, remote control commander, and remote control server

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus and server apparatus are disclosed. In one example, the information processing apparatus is configured to display content on a first display and transmit an instruction to display the content, which is being displayed on the first display, on a second display of a first external device. This instruction causes a displaying of the content at a specified playback start point on the second display.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/553,214, filed Nov. 25, 2014, which is a Continuation Application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/251,167, filed on Apr. 11, 2014,which is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/589,992, filed on Aug. 21, 2007, which is a National Stage Entry ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP 2005-022340, filed on Dec. 6, 2005,which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application JP 2004-372050filed with the Japanese Patent Office on Dec. 22, 2004 and JapanesePatent Application JP 2005-017439 filed with the Japanese Patent Officeon Jan. 25, 2005, the entire contents of these applications areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a remote control system, a remotecommander, and a remote control server for remotely operating atelevision receiver, a DVD player, and various other devices, such as anAV device, a CE device, and an information device, by using a remotecommander, and more particularly, to a remote control system, a remotecommander, and a remote control server for realizing remote control freefrom limitations on the directivity or available transmission distancefrom the remote commander to a device to be operated.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a remote controlsystem, a remote commander, and a remote control server for providingtwo-way communication between the remote commander and a device to beoperated using a network such as TCP/IP, and more particularly, to aremote control system, a remote commander, and a remote control serverfor remotely controlling a device in front of the user's eyes as adevice to be operated from a plurality of devices without limitations onthe directivity or available transmission distance.

BACKGROUND ART

To date, various information appliances and home electric appliances,such as television receivers, video recording and playback devices, andaudio-visual devices, have been developed and manufactured, and havebeen widely used in houses and other living spaces. Basically, suchinformation devices are directly operated through user interfacesgenerally provided for the device main body, such as operation buttonsand volume switches. Recently, however, almost all devices can beremotely operated using remote controllers.

For example, in the field of consumer electrical and electronic devices,such as home electrical products, “infrared remote controllers” using anAM modulation method as means for inputting user operation commands tothe devices in a remote manner have been developed and have already beenestablished.

Such a communication method using infrared light has advantages of lowcost, low power consumption, substantially no legal restrictions incountries, and so forth.

Elimination of hard-wired cabling also means that connectors forconnecting cables are not necessary, leading to reduction in cost. Thereis no concern of mechanical exhaustion caused by inserting and removingconnectors each time connection or disconnection occurs.

The communication method using infrared light, however, has a problem ofdirectivity. Communication is not established unless a light-receivingunit of a receiver is set within the angle of view of a transmitter,which imposes a large limitation in use (see, for example, PatentDocument 1). Further, the infrared communication method basicallyprovides one-way communication, and has a problem that a transmissionsource is not able to receive a response from the other party and is notable to make a delivery confirmation.

It is possible to carry out two-way communication if both devices thatare to perform communication are provided with an infrared transmissionfunction and an infrared reception function. In infrared communication,however, due to the problem of directivity, users of both devices areinconvenienced by having to direct their devices to the other devices toperform transmission operations.

For example, a communication device that relays an infrared operationsignal for an electronic device, which is emitted from a remotecommander, to operate an electronic device located at a place where aninfrared operation signal from a dedicated remote controller does notdirectly reach has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).This communication device extracts a pulse waveform component byremoving a carrier component from the infrared operation signal receivedfrom the remote commander, and transmits the pulse waveform componentthrough a network. The communication device also modulates an infraredcarrier by the pulse waveform component, and transmits the modulatedinfrared carrier to the electronic device to be operated.

A remote operation system that is constructed with a simple deviceconfiguration in which no relay device or the like is used has beenproposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3). A controller transmitscapability information indicating the capability of input operationsthat can be performed by the controller to a device to be controlled,and the device to be controlled creates and returns remote-controllerhandling information for forming a user interface that can be realizedwithin the range of the received capability information. The controllerforms a user interface using the remote-controller handling information.

In the infrared communication method, however, due to the limitedcommunication bandwidth, it is difficult to exchange a large amount ofdata such as moving pictures or still images, and the function of aterminal device for performing remote control is limited.

Further, a mobile-phone remote control system for allowing a reservationto be set in devices, such as home electric appliances, by using amobile phone has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 4).According to this system, a remote controller receives a signal from amobile phone, and optically transmits a remote control signal forremotely controlling a device to be controlled according to the receivedsignal.

In the remote control system using a network, a mobile telephonenetwork, or the like, a remote operation itself is possible; however,limitations on the communication bandwidth are still imposed, as in astandard remote control system, because the infrared communicationmethod is adopted in the final stage in remote control.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2002-165281 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2003-258464 [Patent Document 3] JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-143670 [PatentDocument 4] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.11-284757 DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a superior remotecontrol system, a superior remote commander, and a superior remotecontrol server, in which a television receiver, a DVD player, andvarious other devices, such as an AV device, a CE device, and aninformation device, can suitably be operated remotely by using a remotecommander.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a superiorremote control system, a superior remote commander, and a superiorremote control server, in which remote control free from limitations onthe directivity or available transmission distance from the remotecommander to a device to be operated can be realized.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a superiorremote control system, a superior remote commander, and a superiorremote control server, in which two-way communication between the remotecommander and a device to be operated can be carried out using a networksuch as TCP/IP.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a superiorremote control system, a superior remote commander, and a superiorremote control server, in which a device in front of the user's eyes canbe specified as a device to be operated from a plurality of deviceswithout limitations on the directivity or available transmissiondistance and can be remotely controlled.

Means for Solving the Problems

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentionedprograms, and provides a remote control system in which a remotecommander is used to operate one or more devices to be controlled,wherein the remote commander and at least some of the devices to becontrolled are provided with a network communication function, and adevice to be controlled is operated by means of a command through anetwork in response to a user input on the remote commander.

The term “system” as used herein refers to a logical collection of aplurality of apparatuses (or function modules achieving a specificfunction) regardless of whether or not the apparatuses or functionmodules are housed in a single housing (the same applies to thefollowing description).

In the remote control system according to the present invention, thedevice to be controlled returns a response through the network inresponse to a command transmitted by the remote commander through thenetwork.

Further, the remote commander submits a request for data to the deviceto be controlled, and the device to be controlled returns the requesteddata through the network. Then, the remote commander decodes the datareceived from the device to be controlled to play back and output thedata.

To date, a communication method using infrared light has been widelyused to remotely operate devices. The communication method usinginfrared light has advantages of low cost, low power consumption,substantially no legal restrictions in countries, and so forth. However,the communication method using infrared light has a problem ofdirectivity. Communication is not established unless a light-receivingunit of a receiver is set within the angle of view of a transmitter,which imposes a large limitation in use. Further, the infraredcommunication method basically provides one-way communication, and atransmission source is not able to receive a response from the otherparty and is not able to make a delivery confirmation.

In the remote control system according to the present invention, incontrast, a communication medium with fewer limitations on thedirectivity or available communication range, such as an IP network, isused to perform a remote control operation.

According to such a remote control system using an IP network, two-waycommunication can be carried out between a remote controller and adevice to be operated, and technical advantages of providing morereliable communication by means of a delivery confirmation (response),handling a GUI-based complex command scheme, and providing large-volumedata transmission, such as moving-image streaming, using relativelybroad bands are achieved. For example, a television receiver to beoperated by the remote controller distributes moving-image datasubjected to reception processing, such as a child view, to an IP remotecontroller through an IP network so that the child view can be viewed ona display screen of the IP remote controller.

When data is requested by the remote commander, the device to becontrolled may convert the corresponding data content into a format thatcan be played back and output by the remote commander, and returns theconverted data through the network. For example, when a request forvideo output of a desired television program or a request for AV outputvideo from a device to be controlled, such as an HDD recorder, issubmitted to a television receiver serving as a device to be controlled,the video data is converted into a low-bit-rate data format that can bereceived and played back by an IP remote controller, such as MPEG4 data,and is distributed via streaming through a LAN. However, the process forconversion into a data format that can be played back and output by theremote commander according to the present invention is not limited toconversion of bit rates, such as conversion from a high bit rate to alow bit rate.

Devices to be controlled may include an IR device that can be remotelycontrolled only by means of old infrared communication. In this case, aremote control server having a network communication function and aprotocol conversion function of converting a command received through anetwork into an infrared command may be provided between the IP remotecontroller and the IR device. Upon receiving an operation command forthe IR device from the IP remote controller through an IP network, theremote control server converts the operation command into an infraredcommand, and transfers the infrared command to the IR device. Therefore,the IR device can be operated by the IP remote controller.

The remote control server may extract from the IR device the datarequested by the remote commander to the IR device, and may convert theextracted data into a format that can be played back and output by theremote commander to return the converted data to the remote commanderthrough the network. For example, the remote control server converts AVoutput video from a recording device serving as an IR device into alow-bit-rate data format that can be received and played back by the IPremote controller, such as MPEG4 data, and distributes the converteddata via streaming through a LAN.

If the device to be controlled is a television receiver, it can extractEPG data from a received broadcast wave and can store the EPG data. Inthis case, the EPG data may be returned through the network in responseto an EPG data request from the remote commander. The remote commanderdisplays and outputs received EPG data.

The remote commander may transmit a channel change request to atelevision receiver serving as a device to be controlled in response todesignation of a channel on a current EPG data display view.

In response to this, the television receiver may convert video contentreceived on the channel specified in the change request given by theremote commander into a format that can be played back and output by theremote commander, and may distribute the converted video content viastreaming through the network. Then, the remote commander decodes thevideo content received, and displays video. The user can view a childview on the remote commander.

Further, the television receiver may change the display of the video tothe channel specified in the change request given by the remotecommander. This is an operation of throwing the video displayed on theremote commander onto a television screen.

Further, in response to designation of a television program on a futureEPG data display view, the remote commander may transmit a request forsetting a reservation to record the program to a recording deviceserving as a device to be controlled.

A recording reservation from the remote commander to the recordingdevice may be set by the intervention of a remote control server. Uponreceiving a recording reservation request from the remote commanderthrough the network, the remote control server converts the recordingreservation request into infrared reservation data on the basis of EPGdata, and transmits the recording reservation data via infrared light toan IR recording device that can be remotely controlled only by means ofinfrared communication. Then, the IR recording device sets a recordingreservation according to the infrared reservation data from the remotecontrol server.

Further, in response to a request for video content form the remotecommander, a recording device serving as a device to be controlled mayconvert the requested video content into a format that can be playedback and output by the remote commander, and may distribute theconverted video content via streaming through the network. The remotecommander decodes the video content received, and displays video. Theuser can confirm the recorded video on the remote commander withoutchanging the video displayed on the television set.

Such an operation for recorded video on the remote commander may beperformed by the intervention of a remote control server. Upon receivinga video content request from the remote commander through the network,the remote control server converts the video content request into aninfrared command, and transmits the video content request via infraredlight to an IR recording device that can be remotely controlled only bymeans of infrared communication. In response to this, the IR recordingdevice outputs video content according to the infrared command from theremote control server. Then, the remote control server converts thevideo content output from the IR recording device into a format that canbe played back and output by the remote commander, and distributes theconverted video content to the remote commander via streaming throughthe network.

The remote commander can request a display device serving as a device tobe controlled to change the display of the video to video contentcurrently being displayed on the remote commander. In response to therequest to change the display of the video, for example, the displaydevice changes the screen from video received by a television set tovideo output from a recording device. This is an operation of throwingthe video displayed on the remote commander onto a television screen.

Further, the remote commander may submit a request for deviceinformation to devices to be controlled having a network communicationfunction through the network at the turn-on time or any other timing.Then, a device list concerning a device to be controlled that hasresponded with device information in response to the request isdisplayed. A device to be controlled that responded with deviceinformation in the past and that does not respond at present may bedisplayed in a grayed-out manner on the device list. Alternatively, adevice to be controlled that has not responded with device informationfor a certain period of time or more may be deleted from the devicelist.

The remote commander can transmit an operation request to a device to becontrolled selected on the device list. When the device to becontrolled, displayed in a grayed-out manner on the device list, isselected, an operation request may be transmitted after a request forturning on the device to be controlled is submitted.

Further, the remote control server may pre-register therein informationon IR devices to which the infrared command can be transmitted, and mayreturn IR device information to the remote commander in response to arequest from the remote commander.

In this case, the remote commander displays an IR device list. Then, theremote commander can transmit an operation request for an IR deviceselected on the IR device list to the remote control server through thenetwork. In response to this, the remote control server converts theoperation request for the IR device from the remote commander into aninfrared command, and transfers the converted infrared command to the IRdevice.

Advantages

According to the present invention, a superior remote control system,remote control method, remote commander, and electronic device in whicha television receiver, a DVD player, and various other devices, such asan AV device, a CE device, and an information device, can suitably beoperated remotely by using a remote commander can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, a superior remote controlsystem, remote commander, and remote control server in which remotecontrol free from limitations on the directivity or availabletransmission distance from a remote commander to a device to be operatedcan be realized.

Further, according to the present invention, a superior remote controlsystem, remote commander, and remote control server in which two-waycommunication between the remote commander and a device to be operatedcan be carried out using a network, such as TCP/IP, can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, a superior remote controlsystem, remote commander, and remote control server in which a device infront of the user's eyes can be specified as a device to be operatedfrom a plurality of devices without limitations on the directivity oravailable transmission distance and can be remotely controlled can beprovided.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following embodiments of the present inventionand more detailed description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example structure of aremote control system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a remote control system according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example hardware configuration of aterminal device capable of operating as an IP remote controller.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a structure of an apparatusoperating as a remote control server.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which EPG (current) datareceived by a television set is obtained by an IP remote controller andis displayed an LCD 19.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a television channelchange operation is carried out through an EPG (current) view displayedon the IP remote controller.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which EPG (future) datareceived by the television set is obtained by the IP remote controllerand is displayed on the LCD 19.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a recordingreservation of a program is set through an EPG (future) view displayedon the IP remote controller.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation sequence for displaying the EPG(current) data on the IP remote controller.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the IPremote controller to display the EPG (current) data.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence inwhich a recording reservation of a program is set in a recording deviceby the IP remote controller using the EPG (future) data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of the operation sequencein which a recording reservation of a program is set in the recordingdevice by the IP remote controller using the EPG (future) data.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing still another example of the operationsequence in which a recording reservation of a program is set in therecording device by the IP remote controller using the EPG (future)data.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a terrestrial analogbroadcast received by the television set is viewed on the IP remotecontroller.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a channel is changedin a period of time during which a terrestrial analog broadcast receivedby the television set is viewed on the IP remote controller.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a channel is changedin a period of time during which the terrestrial analog broadcastreceived by the television set is viewed on the IP remote controller.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a channel on thetelevision set is changed to a television program currently being viewedon the IP remote controller.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which a mode in whichrecorded content stored in a recording device is currently viewed on theIP remote controller is changed so that the recorded content is alsoviewed on the television set.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which the recorded contentstored in the recording device is viewed on the IP remote controller.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence forstreaming AV content from an IR recording device to the IP remotecontroller.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence forstreaming AV content from a DLNA device to the IP remote controller.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence forthrowing content of an IR device currently being viewed on the IP remotecontroller onto the television set.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence forthrowing content of a DLNA device currently being viewed on the IPremote controller onto the television set.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   11 CPU-   12 bus-   13 memory device-   14 input switch matrix unit-   15 network communication unit-   16 infrared communication unit-   17 codec processing unit-   18 graphic display processor-   19 liquid crystal display unit-   20 data input/output interface-   31 CPU-   32 bus-   33 memory device-   34 wired LAN unit-   35 infrared processing unit-   37 codec processing unit-   38 HDD

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detailhereinafter with reference to the drawings.

The present invention relates to a remote control system in which atelevision receiver, a DVD player, and various other devices, such as anAV device, a CE device, and an information device, are remotely operatedby using a remote commander.

A communication method using infrared light, that is, an infrared remotecontroller, is generally used for remote control of devices. However,due to the problem of directivity, communication is not establishedunless a light-receiving unit of a receiver is set within the angle ofview of a transmitter, which imposes a large limitation in use. Further,the infrared communication method basically provides one-waycommunication, and a transmission source is not able to receive aresponse from the other party, and is not able to make a deliveryconfirmation.

In the present invention, therefore, a remote control system using aremote commander based on an IP network instead of an infraredtransmission path, i.e., an IP remote controller, is constructed. The IPremote controller provides remote control using a communication mediumwith fewer constraints on the directivity or available communicationrange. Further, on an IP network, two-way communication can be carriedout between the remote controller and a device to be operated, andtechnical advantages of providing more reliable communication by meansof a delivery confirmation (response), handling a GUI-based complexcommand scheme, and providing large-volume data transmission, such asmoving-image streaming, using relatively broad bands are achieved. Forexample, a television receiver to be operated by a remote controllerdistributes moving-image data subjected to reception processing, such asa child view, to an IP remote controller through an IP network so thatthe child view can be viewed on a display screen of the IP remotecontroller.

Since an IP remote controller for controlling a device on a network isnon-directional, or permeable, there arises a problem that a particulardevice in front of the user's eyes cannot be designated and operated asa target. On account of this, remote control is performed using a TCP/IPnetwork. An infrared remote control function of the related art may alsobe used to specify a device.

A. System Configuration

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example structure of a remote controlsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention. The systemshown in FIG. 1 includes an IP remote controller used by a user tooperate devices, and controlled devices A and B to be operated by the IPremote controller. The controlled devices A and B are located indifferent rooms 1 and 2, respectively, and both devices do notsimultaneously reside in an area where infrared light reaches.

The controlled devices A and B include, for example, a televisionreceiver, a DVD player, and various other devices, such as an AV device,a CE device, and an information device, and are each provided with afunction of receiving an infrared command and a network interface. Thecontrolled devices A and B are connected to each other via an IP network(LAN) established under IEEE 802.3 (ETHERNET™ (registered trademark)) orthe like.

An example of controlled devices that can be operated by means ofcommands from the IP remote controller through a network is a homeelectric appliance compatible with the DLNA (Digital Living NetworkAlliance) guidelines, and is hereinafter also referred to as a “DLNAdevice”.

The IP remote controller has a function of transmitting an infraredcommand in accordance with a user's operation and a wireless networkinterface, and is capable of communicating with an access point (AP)through a wireless network established under IEEE 802.11a/b or the like.Since the AP is connected to the IP network, the IP remote controllercan perform two-way communication with the controlled devices A and Bover the AP to transmit a remote control command or receive data fromthe controlled devices A and B through the IP network.

The IP remote controller may further include a display, such as an LCD,and may play back and output moving-image data distributed via streamingfrom the controlled devices A and B through the IP network (discussedbelow).

FIG. 2 shows a remote control system according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. A major difference from the system configurationshown in FIG. 1 is the intervention of a remote control server betweenan IP remote controller and a device to be controlled.

The remote control server is used by connecting it to a main DLNA deviceto be controlled by the IP remote controller, such as a televisionreceiver, or, alternatively, is integrally formed with this type of DLNAdevice.

The remote control server has a wired LAN communication function, suchas ETHERNET™, and receives a command from the IP remote controllerthrough the IP network, i.e., the LAN, to transfer an operation commandto a device to be controlled by the IP remote controller. If the deviceto be controlled also has a LAN communication function, the remotecontrol server transfers through the LAN an operation command receivedfrom the IP remote controller.

Further, for the benefit of a device to be controlled without a LANcommunication function, which can be remotely operated only by an old(legacy) infrared (IR) remote control method (the device to becontrolled is hereinafter also referred to as an “IR device”), theremote control server converts an operation command received from the IPremote controller through the LAN into a command format for use ininfrared communication such as SIRCS, and performs optical transmission.For transmission of an infrared command, if the IR device to becontrolled is in a dead angle from the remote control server or thedistance therebetween is long, an extension cord, such as an AV mouse,may be used to optically transmit the infrared command in the vicinityof the IR device. The AV mouse is disclosed in, for example, JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-223955, which hasbeen assigned to the present applicant.

When the remote control server is connected to a television receiver orany other source device of AV content or is integrally formed therewith,the remote control server can also function as a distribution serverthat distributes the AV content (or any other form of content) to the IPremote controller.

For example, when the remote control server is connected to a televisionreceiver, received audio and video signals are subjected to AV codecconversion into a low-bit-rate data format that can be received andplayed back by the IP remote controller, such as MPEG4 data, and arethen distributed to the IP remote controller via streaming through theLAN. Alternatively, recorded content recorded at a high bit rate, suchas MPEG1 or MPEG2 content, is loaded from an HDD recorder connectedthrough the LAN, is subjected to AV codec conversion into a low-bit-ratedata format that can be received and played back by the IP remotecontroller, such as MPEG4 data, and is then distributed to the IP remotecontroller via streaming through the LAN. Conversion of bit rates, suchas, but not limited to, conversion from a high bit rate to a low bitrate, is an example of the process for conversion into a data formatthat can be played back and output by the IP remote controller.

FIG. 3 shows an example hardware configuration of a terminal devicecapable of operating as the IP remote controller in the remote controlsystem according to the present embodiment. The terminal device shown inFIG. 3 may be manufactured as a dedicated terminal for the IP remotecontroller, or can be designed to also function as another portableterminal, such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a game device.

An IP remote controller 10 shown in FIG. 3 is configured such that a CPU(Central Processing Unit) 11 generally controls the respective parts viaa bus 12.

The CPU 11 is provided with a memory device 13 including a ROM and aRAM, and loads program code stored in the ROM onto the RAM to perform apredetermined process. The predetermined process includes operations,such as transmission and reception of a command/response of a controlsignal to and from a device to be controlled through a network,transmission and reception of content to and from the device to becontrolled, file transfer, and remote operation of a device to becontrolled, such as a DLNA device or an IR device, and these operationsare executed according to an operation input from a user. The details ofthe operations are discussed below.

An input switch matrix unit 14 includes a key operation unit includingkeys, such as a ten-key pad, an audio adjustment key, an image qualityadjustment key, and a channel selection key, and is operated to inputthe contents of an operation to be performed on a device to be remotelycontrolled by a user. A controlled-device operating command input by theinput switch matrix unit 14 is transmitted from a network communicationunit 15 through an IP network.

The network communication unit 15 is provided with a network interfacefor communicating with an access point (AP) through a wireless networkestablished under, for example, IEEE 802.11a/b or the like. The networkcommunication unit 15 is assigned identification information unique onthe network, such as a MAC address or an IP address. In the presentembodiment, the network communication unit 15 is configured to transfera remote control request in accordance with an instruction given by theinput switch matrix unit 14 to a device to be controlled through thenetwork.

An infrared communication unit 16 is configured to transmit as aninfrared signal a device search request for specifying a device in frontof the eyes of the user who is an owner of the IP remote controller. Theinfrared communication unit 16 may also be provided with a function fortransmitting a standard infrared command with the use of SIRCS (SerialInfrared Remote Control System), which is an infrared communicationstandard widely used for remote controllers for AV devices and so forth.

A codec processing unit 17 performs encoding and decoding of AV content.In the present embodiment, AV content received by the networkcommunication unit 15 from a device to be controlled, such as MPEG4content, can be decoded to play back and output audio and video. Forexample, a television receiver to be operated by the remote controllerdistributes moving-image data subjected to reception processing, such asa child view, to the IP remote controller through the IP network so thatthe child view can be viewed on a display screen of the IP remotecontroller. In a case where AV content is not transmitted from the IPremote controller, the encoding function of the codec processing unit 17is not essential.

A graphic display processor (GDP) 18 processes graphic data to bedisplayed and outputted to a liquid crystal display unit (LCD) 19, andcontrols the driving of the LCD 19. For example, a video signal decodedby the codec processing unit 17 is displayed and output from a screen ofthe LCD 19 by the GDP 18. Further, based on device information obtainedfrom a device to be controlled connected to the network, a userinterface for operating the device to be controlled is displayed andoutput on the LCD 19.

The IP remote controller further includes a data input/output interface20 formed of a wired interface, such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), aslot for a memory card, or the like. AV content transferred through theUSB interface or AV content stored in the memory card can be decoded bythe codec processing unit 17 to play back and output data.Alternatively, data processed on the IP remote controller can be encodedby the codec processing unit 17 to transfer the data from the USBinterface or write it in the memory card.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a structure of an apparatus operating as theremote control server in the remote control system according to thepresent embodiment. The remote control server is used by connecting itto a main AV device to be controlled by the IP remote controller, suchas a television receiver, or, alternatively, is integrally formed withthis type of AV device.

A remote control server 30 shown in FIG. 4 is configured such that a CPU31 generally controls the respective parts via a bus 32.

The CPU 31 is provided with a memory device 33 including a ROM and aRAM, and loads program code stored in the ROM onto the RAM to perform apredetermined process.

The remote control server 30 includes a wired LAN communication unit 34,such as ETHERNET™, and receives a command from the IP remote controllerthrough the LAN and the AP to perform processing on the operationcommand.

The remote control server 30 further includes an infrared processingunit 35. For the benefit of an IR device that can be operated only by anold infrared remote control method, the infrared processing unit 35converts an operation command received from the IP remote controllerthrough the LAN into a command format for use in infrared communicationsuch as SIRCS, and performs optical transmission by means of infraredlight. If the legacy controlled device is in a dead angle from theremote control server or the distance therebetween is long, an infraredcommand is output to an AV mouse so that the infrared command isoptically transmitted in the vicinity of the legacy controlled devicethrough output.

A codec processing unit 37 performs encoding and decoding of AV content.In the present embodiment, the codec processing unit 37 is provided withinput terminals for audio and video signals, and encodes audio and videosignals input from a device to be controlled, such as a televisionreceiver or an analog video recorder, into a data format that can beplayed back on the IP remote controller, such as MPEG4 data, todistribute the encoded data to the IP remote controller through the IPnetwork. Alternatively, the codec processing unit 37 loads recordedcontent recorded at a high bit rate, such as MPEG1 or MPEG2 content,from an HDD recorder serving as a device to be controlled through theLAN, converts it into a low-bit-rate data format that can be receivedand played back by the IP remote controller, such as MPEG4 data, anddistributes the converted data via streaming through the LAN.

The remote control server 30 may further include a large-capacitystorage device 38, such as an HDD, for storing encoded or decoded AVcontent, EPG data separated from a received broadcast wave, and a largevolume of other data. However, the HDD 38 is not essential to the remotecontrol server 30.

B. Functionality of Remote Control System

According to a remote control system using an IP remote controller, byconnecting the IP remote controller and a device to be controlledthrough a network, communication operations, such as communication of acontrol signal and content and file transfer, can be performed betweenthe IP remote controller and the device to be controlled. Thesecommunication operations are performed, thereby achieving the followingbasic functions:

(1) Control Signal (Command/Response)

To provide an interactive operation environment, such as reflection inthe display on the remote controller or triggering the next associatedoperation, by transmitting a command to the device to be controlled andreceiving a response (execution result) to the command;

(2) Transmission and Reception of Content

To provide a playback function that is expected as a result of control,such as displaying of network content (a moving picture or still image)on a screen of the remote controller in hand; Further, to realize acontrol function using meta-information of the content; (As an example,a channel is selected (a channel is changed) or a recording reservationis set using EPG information displayed in hand.)

(3) File Transfer

To install in the IP remote controller a storage device or a slot for aremovable medium, such as a memory card, and to transfer the recordingof the medium at the side of the IP remote controller to a contentplayback apparatus on the network to play it back; (As an example, apicture stored in a memory medium loaded in the remote controller isdisplayed on a television screen on the network.)

(4) Remote Operation

To allow a device that is not in front of the user's eyes to be operatedif the device is connected to the network; (Therefore, content in arecorder located in another room or the like can be browsed.) Further,to allow the user to connect the remote controller to a home network,while away from home, to perform a similar operation to that when theuser is at home;

(5) Integration of Remote Controllers

To enable mutual communication with a device to be controlled.(Therefore, device information is obtained from the device to becontrolled, thus making it possible to switch to a user interfacesuitable for each device to be controlled and making it easy tointegrate individual remote controllers for devices into a single unit.)

There are roughly two types of IP remote controllers, i.e., a typehaving only a control function and a type having a content playbackfunction in addition to the control function. The former type, i.e., aninexpensive remote controller, and a highly value-added remotecontroller can individually be constructed. The IP remote controllershown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the latter type.

C. Highly Value-Added Function of Remote Control System Using IP RemoteController

In this section, a highly value-added function of the remote controlsystem, which is achieved by the basic functions discussed in theprevious section, will be described.

C-1. EPG Function

A so-called electronic program guide (EPG: Electrical Program Guide)system is known in which a program guide for selecting a televisionbroadcast program is superimposed on an image signal to be transmittedand is displayed on a display device of a receiver. There are EPGsystems of the VBI (Vertical Blanking Interval) type and the digitalsatellite type for use in digital direct satellite broadcasting (DSS:Digital Satellite System (a trademark of Hughes Communication).

Either type of EPG system provides an EPG view received by a televisionset on the screen, and allows a user to check a desired program on thebasis of the EPG view to select a channel or set a reservation to recordthe program on the EPG view. A large number of broadcast servicescurrently provide EPG.

In the remote control system according to the present embodiment, EPGdata received by a television set can be used on an IP remote controllerto switch television channels and further set a recording reservation onthe EPG view displayed on the LCD 19 of the IP remote controller.

An operation procedure of the EPG function achieved by the remotecontrol system according to the present embodiment will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. It is assumed that a television set andan HDD recorder are provided as devices to be controlled by the IPremote controller. Among them, the television set is a DLNA devicehaving a network communication function, such as ETHERNET™, while theHDD recorder is an IR device without a network communication function,which can be remotely controlled only by a SIRCS-based infraredcommunication method. It is also assumed that the television set isconnected to or integrally formed with the remote control server (seeFIG. 4) and that an operation command from the IP remote controller tothe HDD recorder is received through the network and is subjected toprotocol conversion by the remote control server to transfer theconverted command to the HDD recorder by means of an infraredcommunication method. It is further assumed that the television receiverand the HDD recorder are connected through AV input/output terminals.

FIG. 5 illustrates a manner in which EPG (current) data received by thetelevision set is obtained by the IP remote controller and is displayedon the LCD 19.

On the side of the IP remote controller, Set EPG View is entered via theinput switch matrix unit 14. In response to this, a request for EPG(current) data is transmitted from the IP remote controller to thetelevision receiver, which is a DLNA device, through the network.

On the side of the television receiver, the EPG (current) datasuperimposed on the received broadcast wave is separated and transferredto the IP remote controller through the network.

The EPG data is written in a structure description language, such as anXML (eXtensible Markup Language). On the side of the IP remotecontroller, the CPU 11 analyzes the received EPG (current) data tocreate an EPG view. The GDP 18 performs display processing of an EPG(current) view to display and output an EPG view on the LCD 19, asillustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 illustrates a manner in which a television channel changeoperation is carried out through the EPG (current) view displayed on theIP remote controller.

On the side of the IP remote controller, the user can select a channelon the EPG (current) display view by using the input switch matrix unit14. When selection of a channel is set, a channel change request istransmitted to the television receiver through the network.

The television receiver adjusts a tuner to the channel specified in thereceived channel change request. Then, the television receiver notifiesthe IP remote controller of completion of the channel change through thenetwork.

Then, on the side of the IP remote controller, when a message indicatingthe completion of the channel change is received, the display screen ofthe LCD 19 is returned to the EPG (current) view.

FIG. 7 illustrates a manner in which EPG (future) data received by thetelevision set is obtained by the IP remote controller and is displayedon the LCD 19.

On the side of the IP remote controller, Set EPG View is entered via theinput switch matrix unit 14. In response to this, a request for EPG(future) data is transmitted from the IP remote controller to thetelevision receiver, which is a device to be controlled, through thenetwork.

On the side of the television receiver, the EPG (future) datasuperimposed on the received broadcast wave is separated and transferredto the IP remote controller through the network.

On the side of the IP remote controller, the CPU 11 analyzes thereceived EPG (future) data to create an EPG view. The GDP 18 performsdisplay processing of an EPG (future) view to display and output an EPGview on the LCD 19, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

While the EPG (current) data provides information on the programcurrently broadcasted by each broadcast station, the EPG (future) dataprovides information concerning a recording reservation of a program.FIG. 8 illustrates a manner in which a recording reservation of aprogram is set through an EPG (future) view displayed on the IP remotecontroller.

On the side of the IP remote controller, the user can select on the EPG(future) display view a television program to be reserved for recordingby using the input switch matrix unit 14. When selection of a channel isset, a request for making a reservation to record the selectedtelevision program is transmitted to the television receiver connectedto the remote control server through the network.

In the illustrated example, the HDD recorder serving as a device to becontrolled is an IR device that can be operated only by an old infraredremote control method. For the benefit of the HDD recorder, the remotecontrol server converts an operation command received from the IP remotecontroller through the network into a command for use in infraredcommunication such as an SIRCS, and performs optical transmission bymeans of infrared light. If the IR device is in a dead angle from theremote control server or the distance therebetween is long, an infraredcommand may be output to an AV mouse so that the infrared command isoptically transmitted in the vicinity of the IR device. Meanwhile, ifthe HDD recorder is near the IP remote controller so as to be directlyirradiated with infrared light, the IP remote controller may transmit anSIRCS command for requesting a recording reservation from the infraredcommunication unit 16.

FIG. 9 shows an operation sequence for displaying the EPG (current) dataon the IP remote controller.

The remote control server connected to the television receiver storesweekly SI (Service Information) data as EPG data. Current SI datasuperimposed on a received broadcast wave is separated and is stored asEPG data.

On the side of the IP remote controller, Set EPG View is entered via theinput switch matrix unit 14. In response to this, a request for EPG(current) data is transmitted from the IP remote controller to thetelevision receiver, which is a DLNA device, through the network.

The remote control server transfers the EPG (current) data to the IPremote controller through the network. On the side of the IP remotecontroller, the CPU 11 analyzes the received EPG (current) data tocreate an EPG view. The GDP 18 performs display processing of an EPG(current) view to display and output an EPG view on the LCD 19.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the IPremote controller to display the EPG (current) data.

When an EPG (current) data display request is entered from the inputswitch matrix unit 14, first, current time is obtained (step S1).

Then, a time zone is specified, and an EPG data request is transmittedto the remote control server (step S2).

When the IP remote controller receives EPG data from the remote controlserver (step S3), the CPU 11 configures display data of an EPG viewbased on the EPG data (step S4).

Then, the GDP 18 outputs the generated display data on the screen of theLCD 19 (step S5).

By specifying a next time zone instead of the current time andsubmitting an EPG data request, the IP remote controller can obtain EPG(future) data. As discussed above, a recording reservation of atelevision program can be set through the EPG (future) view. In thefollowing, some examples regarding an operation procedure for setting arecording reservation of a program in a recording device by the IPremote controller using EPG (future) data will be described. In eithercase, it is assumed that a recording device, such as an HDD recorder, isan IR device without a network communication function, which can beremotely controlled only by an infrared communication method such asSIRCS.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an operation sequence in which a recordingreservation of a program is set in the IR recording device by the IPremote controller using EPG (future) data. In the illustrated example,it is assumed that the remote control server manages arecording-reservation list.

The remote control server connected to the television receiver storesweekly SI data as EPG data. Current SI data superimposed on a receivedbroadcast wave is separated and stored as EPG data.

On the side of the IP remote controller, meanwhile, it is assumed thatan EPG (current) view is currently displayed. When Set EPG Next TimeZone View is entered via the input switch matrix unit 14, a request forEPG (future) data is transmitted in response from the IP remotecontroller to the remote control server integrally formed with thetelevision receiver through the network.

The remote control server transfers the EPG (future) data to the IPremote controller through the network. Then, on the side of the IPremote controller, the CPU 11 analyzes the received EPG (future) data tocreate an EPG view. Then, the GDP 18 performs display processing of anEPG (future) view to display and output an EPG view on the LCD 19.

Then, on the side of the IP remote controller, it is assumed that theuser has selected on the EPG (future) display view a television programto be reserved for recording by using the input switch matrix unit 14.In response to this, a recording reservation request is transmittedtogether with reservation data to the remote control server through thenetwork.

The remote control server analyzes the received recording reservationrequest to determine whether or not overlapping reservations whichrecord the same program have been requested. If overlapping reservationsare found, the remote control server returns a reservation-overlapstatus to the IP remote controller through the network. On the side ofthe IP remote controller, an error indication is displayed through theLCD 19.

If there is no overlapping request for making recording reservations,the remote control server adds the requested recording reservation as anew entry in the recording-reservation list managed in the remotecontrol server. Then, a completion-of-reservation status is returned tothe IP remote controller through the network. On the side of the IPremote controller, a completion-of-reservation indication is displayedthrough the LCD 19.

Subsequently, the remote control server stands by until the reservedrecording time. When the reserved recording time arrives, the remotecontrol server transmits an SIRCS command for turning on the powersupply to the IR recording device to start the recording of thetelevision program reserved for recording.

Then, when the record-setting time has elapsed, the remote controlserver transmits an SIRCS command for stopping the recording operationand then a SIRCS command for turning off the power supply to the IRrecording device to terminate the overall recording reservationoperation.

In the example operation shown in FIG. 11, it is necessary to renderboth the remote control server and the IR recording device to be activeat the reserved recording time.

FIG. 12 shows another example of the operation sequence in which arecording reservation of a program is set in the recording device by theIP remote controller using EPG (future) data. In the illustratedexample, it is assumed that the remote control server manages arecording-reservation list and transfers reservation data to therecording device.

The remote control server connected to the television receiver storesweekly SI data as EPG data. Current SI data superimposed on a receivedbroadcast wave is separated and stored as EPG data.

On the side of the IP remote controller, meanwhile, it is assumed thatan EPG (current) view is currently displayed. When Set EPG Next TimeZone View is entered via the input switch matrix unit 14, a request forEPG (future) data is transmitted in response from the IP remotecontroller to the remote control server integrally formed with thetelevision receiver through the network.

The remote control server transfers the EPG (future) data to the IPremote controller through the network. Then, on the side of the IPremote controller, the CPU 11 analyzes the received EPG (future) data tocreate an EPG view. Then, the GDP 18 performs display processing of anEPG (future) view to display and output an EPG view on the LCD 19.

Then, on the side of the IP remote controller, it is assumed that theuser has selected on the EPG (future) display view a television programto be reserved for recording by using the input switch matrix unit 14.In response to this, a recording reservation request is transmittedtogether with reservation data to the remote control server through thenetwork.

The remote control server analyzes the received recording reservationrequest to determine whether or not overlapping reservations whichrecord the same program have been requested. If overlapping reservationsare found, the remote control server returns a reservation-overlapstatus to the IP remote controller through the network. On the side ofthe IP remote controller, an error indication is displayed through theLCD 19.

If there is no overlapping request for making recording reservations,the remote control server adds the requested recording reservation as anew entry in the recording-reservation list managed in the remotecontrol server. Then, a completion-of-reservation status is returned tothe IP remote controller through the network. On the side of the IPremote controller, a completion-of-reservation indication is displayedthrough the LCD 19.

If the recording device is an IR device that can be remotely controlledonly by an infrared communication method, the recording-reservationrequest command transferred through the IP network is subjected to IP/IRprotocol conversion to produce an infrared communication command, suchas SIRCS, to transfer the reservation data to the recording device. Thereservation data includes meta-information obtained from the EPG, suchas the name of a television program to be reserved for recording, therecording date and time, and the broadcast station.

Upon receiving recording-reservation data, the recording device adds therequested recording reservation as a new entry in therecording-reservation list managed in the recording device. When thereserved recording time arrives, the power supply of the recordingdevice is turned on to start the recording of the television programreserved for recording.

Then, when the record-setting time has elapsed, the recording devicestops the recording operation, and turns off the power supply toterminate the overall recording reservation operation.

In the example operation shown in FIG. 12, it is sufficient to renderonly the recording device to be active at the reserved recording time,and the power supply of the remote control server can be turned offafter completion of the recording reservation.

FIG. 13 shows still another example of the operation sequence in which arecording reservation of a program is set in the recording device by theIP remote controller using EPG (future) data. In the illustratedexample, it is assumed that the recording device manages arecording-reservation list.

The remote control server connected to the television receiver storesweekly SI data as EPG data. Current SI data superimposed on a receivedbroadcast wave is separated and stored as EPG data.

On the side of the IP remote controller, meanwhile, it is assumed thatan EPG (current) view is currently displayed. When Set EPG Next TimeZone View is entered via the input switch matrix unit 14, a request forEPG (future) data is transmitted in response from the IP remotecontroller to the remote control server integrally formed with thetelevision receiver through the network.

The remote control server transfers the EPG (future) data to the IPremote controller through the network. Then, on the side of the IPremote controller, the CPU 11 analyzes the received EPG (future) data tocreate an EPG view. Then, the GDP 18 performs display processing of anEPG (future) view to display and output an EPG view on the LCD 19.

Then, on the side of the IP remote controller, it is assumed that theuser has selected on the EPG (future) display view a television programto be reserved for recording by using the input switch matrix unit 14.In response to this, a recording reservation request is transmittedtogether with reservation data to the remote control server through thenetwork.

If the recording device is an IR device that can be remotely controlledonly by an infrared communication method, the remote control serverperforms IP/IR protocol conversion on the recording-reservation requestcommand transferred through the IP network to produce an infraredcommunication command, such as SIRCS, and transfers the reservation datato the recording device. The reservation data includes meta-informationobtained from the EPG, such as the name of the television program to bereserved for recording, the recording date and time, and the broadcaststation. The remote control server returns a status indicatingcompletion of the transfer of the recording-reservation request to theIP remote controller through the network.

On the side of the recording device, upon receiving reservation data viainfrared communication, it is analyzed to determine whether or notoverlapping reservations to record the same program have been requested.If overlapping reservations are found, an error indication is displayed.If there is no overlapping request for making recording reservations,the requested recording reservation is added as a new entry in therecording-reservation list managed in the recording device, and acompletion-of-reservation indication is displayed.

When the reserved recording time arrives, the recording device turns onthe power supply to start the recording of the program reserved forrecording.

Then, when the record-setting time has elapsed, the recording devicestops the recording operation, and then turns off the power supply toterminate the overall recording reservation operation.

C-2. Moving-Image Playback Function

As discussed above, the IP remote controller according to the presentembodiment has a codec processing function and a graphic displayfunction, and is capable of playing back a moving image. For example,the IP remote controller decodes AV content distributed from atelevision receiver, a remote control server, or the like, which is adevice to be controlled, to output audio and video.

In this connection, the remote control server or the like encodes anaudio signal and video signal received as analog broadcast waves into adata format that can be played back on the IP remote controller, such asMPEG4 data, to distribute the encoded data to the IP remote controllerthrough the IP network. Alternatively, the remote control server loadsrecorded content recorded at a high bit rate, such as MPEG1 or MPEG2content, from an HDD recorder through the LAN, converts it into alow-bit-rate data format that can be received and played back by the IPremote controller, such as MPEG4 data, and distributes the converteddata via streaming through the LAN.

An operation procedure of the moving-image playback function achieved bythe remote control system according to the present embodiment will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 14 to 19. It is assumed that atelevision set and an HDD recorder are provided as devices to becontrolled by the IP remote controller. Among them, the television setis a DLNA device having a network communication function, such asETHERNET™, while the HDD recorder is an IR device without a networkcommunication function, which can be remotely operated only by aSIRCS-based infrared communication method. It is also assumed that thetelevision set is connected to or integrally formed with the remotecontrol server (see FIG. 4) and that an operation command from the IPremote controller to the HDD recorder is received through the networkand is subjected to protocol conversion by the remote control server totransfer the converted command to the HDD recorder by means of aninfrared communication method. Further, the remote control server andthe HDD recorder are connected through AV input/output terminals.

FIG. 14 illustrates a manner in which a terrestrial analog broadcastreceived by the television set is viewed by using the IP remotecontroller.

On the side of the IP remote controller, the television set is selectedas a device to be operated through the input switch matrix unit 14. Arequest for turning on the power supply is transmitted from the IPremote controller to the television receiver serving as the device to becontrolled, and the power supply of the television set is turned on inresponse to the request.

Then, on the side of the IP remote controller, a channel is selectedthrough the input switch matrix unit 14. When a desired channel isdetermined, television viewing is set. Then, a moving-image transferrequest is transmitted from the IP remote controller to the televisionset.

On the side of the television set, in response to the moving-imagetransfer request, an analog broadcast wave of the channel in which theviewing is set is received. Then, the analog video and audio signals areconverted into a data format that can be handled by the IP remotecontroller, such as MPEG4 data, and are then distributed via streamingto the IP remote controller.

The IP remote controller decodes the thus transferred moving-image datato display the television program on the LCD 19.

The operation of displaying a television program currently being viewedon the television set or streaming video from the recording device onthe IP remote controller is also referred to herein as a “catch”.

FIGS. 15 to 16 illustrate a manner in which a channel is changed in aperiod of time during which a terrestrial analog broadcast received bythe television set is viewed on the IP remote controller. It is assumedthat the television set has a multi-tuner function capable of receivingbroadcast waves from two or more channels at the same time.

As discussed above, the television set encodes a received broadcastprogram and distributes it to the IP remote controller via streaming,and the IP remote controller receives and decodes it to display thetelevision program on the LCD 19. At this time, the same program isbeing displayed on the television screen and the LCD 19 of the IP remotecontroller.

On the side of the IP remote controller, a channel is selected throughthe input switch matrix unit 14. For example, if the IP remotecontroller is provided with a user interface, an operation for selectingthe television set as the medium and placing a cursor position onto adesired channel is performed (not shown).

When a channel change is set, a channel-change request is transmittedfrom the IP remote controller to the television set.

In response to the channel-change request, the television set receivesan analog broadcast wave on the determined channel, converts it into adata format that can be handled by the IP remote controller, such asMPEG4 data, and distributes the converted data to the IP remotecontroller via streaming.

Since the channel change is carried out on the IP remote controller, thetelevision set still displays the program received on the initialchannel. On the side of the IP remote controller, meanwhile, since thetransferred moving-image data is decoded and displayed on the LCD 19,the television program of the changed channel can be viewed.

FIG. 17 illustrates a manner in which the video displayed on thetelevision set is changed to the television program currently beingviewed on the IP remote controller.

As shown in FIG. 17, a screen change request for changing to the channelcurrently being viewed on the IP remote controller is transmitted to thetelevision set.

In response to this request, the television set changes the screen tothe designated channel, and displays the video of the television programof the changed channel. Then, the currently received analog video andaudio signals are converted into a data format that can be handled bythe IP remote controller, such as MPEG4 data, and is distributed to theIP remote controller via streaming.

The IP remote controller decodes the thus transferred moving-image datato display the television program on the LCD 19. As a result, the sameprogram is displayed on the television screen and the LCD 19 of the IPremote controller.

The operation of displaying a television program or streaming videocurrently being viewed on the IP remote controller on the television setis also referred to herein as a “throw”.

FIGS. 18 to 19 illustrate a manner in which recorded content stored inthe recording device is viewed on the IP remote controller.

On the side of the IP remote controller, the user uses the input switchmatrix unit 14 to give instructions to turn on the recording device,such as an HDD recorder, and to distribute recorded content. Theserequests are transmitted to the remote control server integrally formedwith the television receiver through the network.

In the illustrated example, the HDD recorder, which is the device to becontrolled, is an IR device that can be operated only by an infraredremote control method. For the benefit of the HDD recorder, the remotecontrol server performs IP/IR conversion on an operation commandreceived from the IP remote controller through the network into acommand for use in infrared communication such as SIRCS, and performsoptical transmission by means of infrared light. If the legacycontrolled device is in a dead angle from the remote control server orthe distance therebetween is long, an infrared command is output to anAV mouse so that the infrared command is optically transmitted in thevicinity of the IR device. Meanwhile, if the HDD recorder is near the IPremote controller so as to be directly irradiated with infrared light,the IP remote controller may output an SIRCS command for requesting arecording reservation from the infrared communication unit 16.

In response to the SIRCS command, the HDD recorder turns on the powersupply thereof, and supplies AV output video of the designated recordedcontent to the remote control server.

The remote control server encodes the AV output video of the HDDrecorder into a data format that can be played back by the IP remotecontroller, such as MPEG4 data, and distributes it to the IP remotecontroller through the IP network. Alternatively, the remote controlserver loads recorded content recorded at a high bit rate, such as MPEG1or MPEG2 content, from the HDD recorder, converts it into a low-bit-ratedata format that can be received and played back by the IP remotecontroller, such as MPEG4 data, and distributes the converted data viastreaming through the LAN.

On the side of the IP remote controller, the transferred moving-imagedata is decoded and displayed on the LCD 19, thus allowing the user toview the recorded content. The television set, on the other hand, stilldisplays the program received on the initial channel.

As shown in FIG. 19, it is also possible to change the channel on thetelevision side to the recorded content currently being viewed on the IPremote controller by means of a throw operation (discussed above).

In this case, a screen change request for changing to the recordedcontent currently being viewed on the IP remote controller istransmitted to the television set.

On the side of the television set, in response to this request, the AVoutput video from the HDD recorder is encoded and distributed to the IPremote controller while the display screen is also changed from thetelevision video to the AV output video.

FIG. 20 shows an example of an operation sequence for distributing AVcontent via streaming from an IR recording device that can be remotelycontrolled only by an infrared communication method to the IP remotecontroller.

In this case, a remote control server having a network connectionfunction and a protocol conversion function into an infrared command isprovided. The remote control server is connected to or integrally formedwith, for example, a television set. Further, it is assumed that theremote control server pre-registers therein information concerning IRdevices to which an infrared command can be transmitted from the remotecontrol server.

The IP remote controller, when turned on, submits a request for deviceinformation concerning the IR devices to the remote control serverthrough the network.

In response to the request for the device information, the remotecontrol server returns the information concerning the IR devices to theIP remote controller through the network.

The received device list is displayed on the LCD 19 of the IP remotecontroller. When the user selects an IR device on this screen, a requestfor starting streaming of AV content to the selected IR device istransmitted to the remote control server through the network.

Upon receiving the request for starting streaming, the remote controlserver determines whether or not the requested IR device has been turnedon and is outputting video. If the IR device has not been turned on, theIR device is turned on to start outputting video.

Then, the remote control server encodes the AV output video from the IRdevice into a data format that can be played back by the IP remotecontroller, such as MPEG4 data, and distributes it to the IP remotecontroller via streaming through the IP network.

The IP remote controller decodes the thus transferred moving-image datato display video on the LCD 19.

On the side of the IP remote controller, furthermore, even during thestreaming display, operations for the IR device can be performed throughthe input switch matrix unit 14. The operations used herein includechanging of output video, changing of channels, and so forth.

A command for the IR device is transmitted from the IP remote controllerto the remote control server through the network. The remote controlserver converts the operation command received from the IP remotecontroller through the network into a command for use in infraredcommunication such as SIRCS, and performs optical transmission by meansof infrared light.

The IR device executes the command received via infrared light. Then,streaming of video in which the execution result of the command has beenreflected is performed via the remote control server.

If the device to be controlled by the IP remote controller is an IRdevice that can be remotely controlled only by an infrared communicationmethod, as discussed above, a remote control server for performingprotocol conversion on a command is provided. If the device to becontrolled is a DLNA device having a network connection function,meanwhile, the intervention of the remote control server is notnecessary because the IP remote controller is capable of performing acommand operation through the network.

FIG. 21 shows an example of an operation sequence for streaming AVcontent from a DLNA device to the IP remote controller.

The IP remote controller, when turned on, submits a request for deviceinformation to the DLNA device through the network.

In response to the device information request, the DLNA device, whichhas been turned on, returns the device information to the IP remotecontroller through the network.

A device list concerning DLNA devices that have responded is displayedon the screen of the LCD 19 of the IP remote controller. A DLNA devicethat responded with device information in the past is displayed asgrayed-out. A DLNA device that has not responded for a predeterminedperiod of time is determined to be disconnected from the network and isdeleted from the device list.

When the user selects a DLNA device on the screen, it is determinedwhether or not the selected DLNA device has been turned on, that is,whether or not the device information has been returned. If the DLNAdevice has not been turned on, a request for turning on the power supplyis transmitted to the DLNA device through the network.

Upon receiving the request for turning on the power supply, the DLNAdevice turns on the power supply, and returns a network participationnotification to the IP remote controller. The IP remote controllerreflects the activation of the DLNA device in the device list, andchanges the grayed-out indication of the DLNA device to a normalindication.

If the selected DLNA device has been turned on, a request for a list ofavailable content is submitted to the selected DLNA device through thenetwork. In response to this, the DLNA device returns a content list tothe IP remote controller. For example, the content list is a list ofrecorded content if the DLNA device is a recording device, such as anHDD recorder, and is a list of receivable channels if the DLNA device isa television set.

The received content list is displayed on the screen of the LCD 19 ofthe IP remote controller. When the user selects desired content on thescreen, a request for starting streaming of the selected content istransmitted to the remote control server through the network.

Upon receiving the request for starting streaming, the DLNA deviceoutputs the corresponding video, and encodes the AV output video into adata format that can be played back by the IP remote controller, such asMPEG4 data, to distribute the encoded data to the IP remote controllervia streaming through the IP network.

The IP remote controller decodes the thus transferred moving-image datato display video on the LCD 19.

On the side of the IP remote controller, furthermore, even during thestreaming display, operations for the content can be performed throughthe input switch matrix unit 14. The operations for the content usedherein include changing of output video, changing of channels, and soforth.

A command for the content operations is sent from the IP remotecontroller to the DLNA device through the network. The DLNA deviceexecutes the received command to perform streaming of video in which theexecution result of the command has been reflected.

In accordance with the operation sequence shown in FIG. 20, the videocontent output from the IR recording device can be viewed on the IPremote controller. FIG. 22 shows an example of an operation sequence for“throwing” content of an IR device currently being viewed on the IPremote controller onto a television set. It is assumed that thetelevision set has a remote control server function.

AV video is output from an IR recording device, such as an HDD recorderor any other recording device. The television set utilizes the remotecontrol server function to encode the AV output video into a data formatthat can be played back by the IP remote controller, such as MPEG4 data,to distribute the encoded data to the IP remote controller via streamingthrough the IP network. The IP remote controller decodes the transferredmoving-image data to display video on the LCD 19.

It is assumed that a throw operation has been performed through theinput switch matrix unit 14 at the side of the IP remote controller. TheIP remote controller instructs the television set to stop streaming, andthe television set stops streaming to the IP remote controller inresponse to the instruction.

Then, the IP remote controller instructs the television set to play backthe content of the IR device. At this time, content is specified andplayed back. There are several sets by which the content is specified,such as a device, which is a content provider, and a displaydestination, the name of an AV input terminal of the television set anda display destination, and a function name of the television set and adisplay destination.

On the side of the television set, in response to the content playbackinstruction, AV output video from the IR recording device is displayedand output.

In accordance with the operation sequence shown in FIG. 21, videocontent output from the DLNA device can directly be viewed on the IPremote controller. FIG. 23 shows an example of an operation sequence for“throwing” content of a DLNA device currently being viewed on the IPremote controller onto a television set.

An HDD recorder or any other DLNA device having a recording functionencodes AV output video into a data format that can be played by the IPremote controller, such as MPEG4 data, and distributes the encoded datato the IP remote controller via streaming through the IP network. The IPremote controller decodes the transferred moving-image data to displayvideo on the LCD 19.

It is assumed that a throw operation has been performed through theinput switch matrix unit 14 at the side of the IP remote controller. TheIP remote controller instructs the DLNA device to stop streaming to theIP remote controller. In response to the instruction, the DLNA devicestops streaming to the IP remote controller.

Then, the IP remote controller submits a content playback instructionthrough the network. In the playback instruction, a server, a contentname, a playback start point, and a display destination are specified.

In response to this, the television set specified as the destinationonto which the content is thrown requests the DLNA device to performstreaming. The DLNA device starts streaming of the specified contentfrom the specified playback start point. The television set displays andoutputs the received streaming video.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention has been described in detail with reference tospecific embodiments. However, it is obvious that modifications andalternatives of the embodiments may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

While a device to be controlled by an IP remote controller has beendescribed herein in the context of a television receiver or a recordingdevice such as an HDD recorder, the present invention is not limitedthereto. Other devices handling AV content, or home electric appliancesor information devices that do not handle AV content may also be used asdevices to be controlled by the IP remote controller to construct theremote control system according to the present invention.

That is, the present invention has been disclosed by way of exemplaryembodiments, and the contents disclosed herein should not berestrictively construed. The gist of the present invention should bedetermined in consideration of the claims.

1. A control apparatus comprising: control circuitry configured tocontrol communication circuitry to transmit a control signal to aplurality of electronic apparatuses; and display control circuitryconfigured to control a display to display a graphical user interface,the graphical user interface includes a list of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses, wherein one or more of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses are in an inactive state and grayed-out in thelist, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive aselection of one of the one or more of the plurality of electronicapparatuses that are in the inactive state and grayed-out in the list,control the communication circuitry to transmit the control signal tothe one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses in response toreceiving the selection, the control signal causes the one of theplurality of electronic apparatuses that is selected to change from theinactive state to an active state.
 2. The control apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to controla plurality of video contents as a source, and control a plurality ofoutput devices.
 3. The control apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe control circuitry is further configured to control the communicationcircuitry to transmit one of the plurality of video contents to one ofthe plurality of output devices via local area network streaming.
 4. Thecontrol apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of outputdevices includes a second display, wherein the communication circuitryis further configured to receive a selection of one of the of theplurality of video contents, and receive a selection of the seconddisplay from the plurality of output devices, and wherein the controlcircuitry is further configured to control the second display to displaythe one of the plurality of video contents in response to the selectionof the one of the plurality of video contents and the selection of thesecond display.
 5. The control apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe control circuitry is further configured to control any of theplurality of output devices to display one or more video contents of theplurality of video contents.
 6. The control apparatus according to claim5, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to control thegraphical user interface to display a second one or more video contentsof the plurality of video contents.
 7. The control apparatus accordingto claim 6, wherein the second one or more video contents displayed onthe graphical user interface correspond to the one or more videocontents displayed on the plurality of output devices.
 8. The controlapparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses is a recorder that is configured to record avideo content.
 9. The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein atleast one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses is a second displaythat is configured to display video content.
 10. The control apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the communication circuitry is furtherconfigured to communicate with the plurality of electronic apparatuses,and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identifyinformation indicating a status of each electronic apparatus of theplurality of electronic apparatuses based on communication between thecommunication circuitry and the plurality of electronic apparatuses, andcontrol the list of the plurality of electronic apparatuses based on thestatus of the each electronic apparatus of the plurality of electronicapparatuses.
 11. The control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein,to control the list of the plurality of electronic apparatuses based onthe status of the each electronic apparatus of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses, the control circuitry is further configured tocontrol one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses to be displayedand grayed-out in the list when the information indicates that the oneof the plurality of electronic apparatuses is in the inactive state. 12.The control apparatus according to claim 2, the control circuitry isfurther configured to receive a first command, and convert the firstcommand that is received into a second command for a particularelectronic apparatus of the plurality of electronic apparatuses.
 13. Thecontrol apparatus according to claim 1, the communication circuitry isconfigured to communicate with at least one of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses via an IP (internet protocol) network.
 14. Amethod comprising: controlling, with control circuitry, a communicationcircuitry to transmit a control signal to a plurality of electronicapparatuses; controlling, with display control circuitry, a display todisplay a graphical user interface, the graphical user interfaceincludes a list of the plurality of electronic apparatuses, wherein oneor more of the plurality of electronic apparatuses are in an inactivestate and grayed-out in the list; receiving a selection of one of theone or more of the plurality of electronic apparatuses that are in theinactive state and grayed-out in the list; and controlling thecommunication circuitry to transmit the control signal to the one of theplurality of electronic apparatuses in response to receiving theselection, the control signal causes the one of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses that is selected to change from the inactivestate to an active state.
 15. A system comprising: a plurality ofelectronic apparatuses; and a control apparatus including controlcircuitry configured to control communication circuitry to transmit acontrol signal to the plurality of electronic apparatuses; and displaycontrol circuitry configured to control a display to display a graphicaluser interface, the graphical user interface includes a list of theplurality of electronic apparatuses, wherein one or more of theplurality of electronic apparatuses are in an inactive state andgrayed-out in the list, wherein the control circuitry is furtherconfigured to receive a selection of one of the one or more of theplurality of electronic apparatuses that are in the inactive state andgrayed-out in the list, control the communication circuitry to transmitthe control signal to the one of the plurality of electronic apparatusesin response to receiving the selection, the control signal causes theone of the plurality of electronic apparatuses that is selected tochange from the inactive state to an active state.
 16. The systemaccording to claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is furtherconfigured to control a plurality of video contents as a source, andcontrol a plurality of output devices.
 17. The system according to claim16, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to control thecommunication circuitry to transmit one of the plurality of videocontents to one of the plurality of output devices via local areanetwork streaming.
 18. The system according to claim 16, wherein theplurality of output devices includes a second display, wherein thecommunication circuitry is further configured to receive a selection ofone of the of the plurality of video contents, and receive a selectionof the second display from the plurality of output devices, and whereinthe control circuitry is further configured to control the seconddisplay to display the one of the plurality of video contents inresponse to the selection of the one of the plurality of video contentsand the selection of the second display.
 19. The system according toclaim 16, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to controlany of the plurality of output devices to display one or more videocontents of the plurality of video contents.
 20. The system according toclaim 19, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to controlthe graphical user interface to display a second one or more videocontents of the plurality of video contents.
 21. The system according toclaim 16, wherein the communication circuitry is further configured tocommunicate with the plurality of electronic apparatuses, wherein thecontrol circuitry is further configured to identify informationindicating a status of each electronic apparatus of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses based on communication between the communicationcircuitry and the plurality of electronic apparatuses, and control thelist of the plurality of electronic apparatuses based on the status ofthe each electronic apparatus of the plurality of electronicapparatuses, and wherein, to control the list of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses based on the status of the each electronicapparatus of the plurality of electronic apparatuses, the controlcircuitry is further configured to control one of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses to be displayed and grayed-out in the list whenthe information indicates that the one of the plurality of electronicapparatuses is in the inactive state.
 22. The system according to claim16, wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses is arecorder that is configured to record a video content.
 23. The systemaccording to claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses is a second display that is configured to displayvideo content.
 24. The system according to claim 15, wherein thecommunication circuitry is further configured to communicate with atleast one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses via an IP (internetprotocol) network.